PART 4.] 
Z.aw<ler. M‘nwt'al Slaliitlic* <>J Knnucon. 
! >:i 
Captain Garstin, in submitting the numerical return from Gurhwal, says— 
“ The return has been prepared from statements sent in by Putwarees, and I do not think 
any great reliance can be placed on their correctness, as it must have been most difficult for 
them to find out the _ information required; the people working the mines themselves not 
having the slightest idea of the amount of ore they cither collect or sell. 
“ The copper mines in Dhanpur used formerly to bring in a much larger revenue than 
they now do; the fact being that the shafts have been sunk so deep into the hill, and the 
passages are so intricate, that very few people will venture into them. The miners also say, 
that the mines are nearly worked out. 
“ There is, one may say, no export of ores from this district, the mines worked only 
being sufficient to supply the wants of the people. 
“ I regret that I cannot give further information, hut the agency at my disposal is 
too limited to enable me to collate any that I would deem trustworthy.” 
lsi July 1869. A. W. Lawder. 
The mines noticed in the above return have been known for many years. Some of 
them were noticed by the earliest European visitors to these bills. And when there was no 
communication with other countries and no supply of imported metal, they were naturally of 
higher importance and of greater value than in later years, when their rudely extracted 
products have had to contend with European manufactures. The earliest description, in any 
detail, of these sources of mineral wealth was given by Captain J. I). Herbert in 1829 
in his report on the mineral productions of that part of the Himalaya mountains between 
the Sutlej and Kali (Gfigva) rivers, &c. (Asiatic Researches, xviii, Pt. 1,227). In this almost 
every locality noted above is mentioned. Dluinpur and Dhohri at that time paid a revenue 
or royalty for the right of working of Rs. l,200per annum ; Ganguli and Sira of Rs. 1,000; 
Pokn Rs. 600. The localities, modes of working, and rocks are described, and the means 
of improvement noted. The iron and lead mines ar-o also noticed, as well as the non- 
metallie products of the hills—sulphur, alum, bitumen, graphite, borax, limestone, &c., &c. 
The inaccessibility of the various places is also noticed. 
In 1838 a report on the copper mines of Kumaon by Captain H. Drummond appeared 
in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (vol. vii,' p. 934). In this he gives the results 
of an examination of many of the mines by a practical Cornish miner, Mr. Wilkin, whom he 
had brought out from England. The Rye (Rad) and the Sheera (Sira) mines, both noticed 
above, are specially relerred to. Mr. Wilkin recommended certain trials and improvements 
in the mode of working, taking a favorable view of the prospects. An experimental trial 
was then made with the view of opening a regular mine at Pokri, in Gurhwal. Extensive 
workings liad here been carried on from very early times, and one mine, called the Rajah 
Khan or Rajah’s mine, had, it is said, yielded in one year more than 11s. 50,000. At the 
time alluded to (1838-39) the right of mining was leased for Rs. 100 per annum. Two 
galleries or adits were commenced, one in each of the two ravines in which the copper was 
known to occur, the Rajah Khan and the Chumitti ravines, about 500 yards apart. Up 
to May 1839, 149.) feet had been opened in the Rajah Khan drift, and 111 feet in the other. 
(Lieutenant Glasfurd, On the experimental copper mine in Kumaon, Jour. Asiat. Soe., Beng., 
viii., 471). 
The work was continued until June 1841, when the estimated cost had been largely- 
exceeded, amt as no sufficient retttms were obtained, the trial was finally stopped. At that 
time 257| fathoms of ground had been driven through. In addition to the two old mines 
noticed above, the Rajah s and Chumitti (or Chaomuttee), a new opening was made, when good 
specimens of ore were found near the surface, but at a depth of 15 fathoms they ceased, and 
at 23) fathoms it was abandoned. Details are given by Mr. Wilkin as to other mines in 
the neighbourhood of Pokri also. 
The total sum expended in this experimental trial was Rs. 7,384 and there was realized by 
sale of copper during the time Rs. 779). Mr. Lushington, who gives these details, mentions 
the real obstacles to success which have to be contended with. The distance of the mines 
from the plains, the slowness and expense of carriage, the cheapness and abundance of 
English copper, the superficiality of the mines yet known, and the want of coal are all 
serious drawbacks. 
